Stair-rod



(No Model.)

A. W. FINDLAY.

STAIR ROD.

No. 551,437 Patented Deg. 17, 1895.

'ndrewwndly UNITED STATES PATENT rrrcn.

ANDRE" \V. FINDLAY, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

STAlR-ROD.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 551,437, dated December1'7, 1895.

Application filed November lfl, 1894. Serial No. 528,782. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

I-le itknown that I, ANDREW 'W. FINDLAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Reading, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania,have invented a new and useful Stair-Rod, of which the following is aspecifica'rion.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of stair-rodswherein the rod is composed of a plurality of sections slid-ably joinedto each other so as to be capable of moving on each other, to the endthat the length of the rod maybe increased or diminished according tothe width of the carpet to be secured in place, or to the otherconditions which attend the use of the device.

The invention consists in certain novel features and details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the drawings,an d finally pointed out in the claims.

' In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a per spective view of astair-rod constructed after the manner of my invention and showing thesame applied as in practice and held by the fastening devices referredto hereinbefore; Fig. 2, a 1011 gitudinal section of the rod andextendingto the fastening or securing devices; Fig. 3, a cross-sectionon the line of Fig. 2; Fig. i, a similar view on the line 3 y of thesame figure; Fig. 5, a perspective view of one of the securing-screws.

My improved stair-rod is formed of two sections a and b, which aresubstantial duplicates of each other, differing only in size. Thesesections are formed of sheet metal, havin g their sides 0 bent upwardlyor laterally,

to form curved flanges, and so as to give each section the shape of aperpendicularly-elongated letter C. The section I) is a size larger thanthe section a and receives the same, so that the two may slide freely oneach other.

d indicates a strengthening and ornamental plate, which extends acrossthe inner end of the section b, and which has one side projected beyondthe same. This plate has its ends bent slightly and in conformity withthe bends c of the section Z), said bent ends of the plate (I beingtapered 'or gradually reduced in thickness, so as to be finally mergedinto the sides 0 of the sections. The purpose of this plate istwofoldnan1ely, to strengthen the plate I) and to prevent the sides oredges 0 of the same from spreading, and at the same time to give thedevice a finished and ornamental appearance.

Formed in the outer ends of the sections a and Z), respectively, are thelongitudinallyelongated slots 6, which are formed with open ends andwhich are provided to permit securing the rods in place. This securingof the rods is effected by means of the clampingscrews j, which are onefor each slot e and which pass through the same and into the stair.These screws f comprise three parts namely, the screwproper or threadedportion 1, the disk-like head 2, and the thumb-wheel The screw proper orthreaded portion 1 is adapted to screw into the stair, while the disk 2is provided to bear upon the sections and to clamp the same against thestair. The thumbwheels 3 are located above the disks 2 and axi allycoincident with the screw proper 1, their purpose being to furnish meansfor operating the screw. Thus it will be seen that in addition to thesemechanical functions the several parts of the screws f combine to makean ornamental device which greatly adds to the finished appearance ofthe stair-rod.

In the use of my improved stair-rod the screws f are first fixed in thestair a distance apart which will. be equal to a little more than thewidth of the carpet to be secured, after which the sections a and Z)should be adjusted so that their ends will be capable of lying betweenthe screws f. The arrangement of the device is completed by spreadingthe sections a and b so that the respective slots a will receive thethreaded portion 1 of the screws f, and by tightening the screws fsothat the disks thereof will bind against the respective sections (4 andl) and hold the same securely.

Owing to the peculiar construction of my stair-rod, it maybe easilyremoved for cleanin g of the rod or for adjusting or removing the carpetwithout necessitating the removal of the fastening-screws; and it may bereplaced with equal facility, and by simply engaging the slots (2 withthe respective screws f; also, the rod may be adjusted to suit the widthof the stair or the width of the carpet, thus making it necessary tomanufacture but one size of rod, all of which will be understood andwill require no further description.

It is possible to provide, instead of the slots 6, a correspondingnumber of openings having no communication with the exterior edges ofthe sections a and Z), and through which the screws f may be passed. Bythese means the rods will be held in place as securely as in thepreferred form; but in the removal of the rod it will be necessary tocompletely remove the screws f for obvious reasons. This change may beresorted to without affecting that portion of my invention which relatesto the structure of the rod; but it is essential to the remainingfeature of my invention that the slots 0 be provided, and that they beformed as shown in the drawin Therefore, Iprefer the slots (2 andconsiderany variation thereof as having fewer advantages than the slots.

Having described the invention, 1 claim- 1. A stair rod consisting oftwo similar telescopic sections C-shaped in cross section, each havingoverturned oppositely disposed edges extending inwardly toward eachother, the overturned edges of one section interlocking and fittin gwithin the corresponding edges of the other section so as to render thedevice capable of longitudinal extension and at the same time preventrelative lateral movement of the sections, the outside section having atits inner end a reinforcing plate firmly united thereto and extendingpartially around the overturned edges thereof, substantially as setforth.

2. A stair rod consisting of two telescopic sections each formed ofsheet metal and substantially C-shaped in cross section, one sectioninterlocking and sliding within the other section for adapting the rodas a whole to be extended in length, each section being provided at itsouter end with a longitudinally elongated open slot for the reception ofa retaining screw, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ANDRE\V \V. FINDLAY.

\Vitnesses J. H. LEOND, F. M. BANKS.

